Re: Does anybody know anything about tuning air shocks?
I do all the work while the shocks are on the rig. I don't actually measure the amount that currently in the shock but I carefully measure the amount I add. If the sides aren't equal I'll add 5cc more to one side than another. If you charge them on the bench it's going to be tricky to reinstall them. No reasonable human can compress charged air shocks and even if they could lining up the bolt, misalignment spaces, lock washer, etc. would be a nightmare. Finally, it's probably going to take 4-10 tries to get it. You really want to have the nitrogen at the buggy.
Here are my steps.
1) Raise rig and confirm full extension with tape measure
2) Using deflator slowly remove nitrogen
3) Pull valve core and add 10 cc or oil (more if you think you're way off, 15/10 if they are unequal, etc.)
4) Install valve core and charge shock
5) Using suck down winch see how hard it is to compress the shocks. It should be difficult but possible to get full compression.
6) Go back to step 1 if you're not happy (it may take a bunch of tries)
7) Leave which sucked in for 5 minutes or so. This should give you a reasonable guess at your ride height.
8 ) Wheel it to test it.
BTW, when you first charge them and lower the rig gracefully with the cherry picker/hi-lift it's going to sit a *lot* higher than it will after you first trip. Even a quick suck down and release will remove 2-3" from the ride height. Step 7 above will help figure out the real ride height but don't get to thinking you're way off if you have 8" of extension after gently lowering it.
(I'm not sure I've said anything new here. I'm a soon to be banned post padder
)
